Jakarta (Antara Babel) - A senior Golkar Party politician, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, has expressed his disagreement with the party chief's decision to participate in the permanent coalition established by parties supporting the Prabowo-Hatta pair.
He said at a press conference here on Tuesday that the decision was illegitimate because it had been taken unilaterally by the general chairman of the party, Aburizal "Ical" Bakrie.
"The coalition is totally not our affair. So, Golkar Party's participation in it is illegitimate," he said at the conference on "Saving Golkar Party" held by inter-generation cadres of the party.
Political parties that supported the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa pair in the July 9 presidential election had declared a permanent coalition here on Monday to show their commitment in building a solid unity in parliament.
The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Chairman Suhardi said the declaration was aimed at sealing the parties' commitment to maintaining their five-year permanent coalition in the House of Representatives (DPR).
"We have experience. If the parliament is not strong, the achievement will not be optimal," he said.
According to Suhardi, the declaration was not a step taken by the Red and White Coalition camp to maintain the Golkar Party to remain committed to the coalition amid rumor that the party will shift its support to the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo.
The declaration, taking place at the Proclamation Monument in Central Jakarta, was attended by representatives of the parties supporting the permanent coalition.
The parties in the coalition were Gerindra, the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democrat Party (PD), and the Moon and Star Party (PBB).
Golkar is the runner-up of the legislative elections held on April 9, collecting 14.75 percent of the votes. The seven-party coalition won 59.12 percent of the votes and together could dominate the parliament.
Ginandjar said Ical could not act on behalf of the party because his decision had never been discussed through a party mechanism.
"The decision to join in the coalition is strategic, and so, it must first be discussed at a party meeting. The fact is that it was never done and was solely the decision of Aburizal Bakrie," he said.
Golkar Party young cadre Indra J Piliang meanwhile said on the occasion that the party had never organizationally provided a mandate for participating in a permanent coalition with other parties. He said Ical's move was like hijacking the next party leadership.
Following the presidential election on July 9, both camps have claimed their victory.
Several survey institutes had declared the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla pair as the winner of the election, but some others had stated that the winner of the election was the Prabowo-Hatta duo.
The General Elections Commission meanwhile is scheduled to announce the official result of the election on July 22.
The Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla was supported by five political parties, namely the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), and the Indonesia Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).
